Studies in Contemporary Jewry, Volume XX: Dark Times, Dire Decisions: Jews and Communism (Studies in Contemporary Jewry) (VOL. XX)

The newest volume of the annual Studies in Contemporary Jewry series features essays on the varied and often controversial ways Communism and Jewish history interacted during the 20th century. The volume's contents examine the relationship between Jews and the Communist movement in Poland, Russia, America, Britain, France, the Islamic world, and Germany. "Volume XX of the distinguished annual Studies in Contemporary Jewry examines the extremely varied - and often controversial - ways in which Communism and Jewish history interacted during the twentieth century. While the Communist movement promoted an internationalist worldview that discounted ethnicity in favor of class solidarity, scholars in this volume show the significance of Jewish participation in the movement's history. When and why - a disproportionate number of Jews (by origin, if not belief) identified with the Communist movement, as party members or as sympathizers and "fellow travelers." Other contributors investigate how critical a role Jewish Communists played in the Communist movement and in the Jewish world."--Jacket Bringing together contributions from twelve outstanding scholars, volume 20 of this distinguished annual demonstrates in what extremely varied - and often controversial - ways Communism and Jewish history, interacted during the so-called short twentieth century. Among the key issues examined in this volume are whether, when, and why a disproportionate number of Jews (by origin if not by belief) joined the Communist movement; how significant a role they played in that movement and in the Jewish world; what policies were pursued by the Communist regimes and parties towards the Jewish people as well as Jewish party members; and what impact the association - real or imagined - between Jews and Communists had on the rise of antisemitism